Pressure-fed vacuum swimming pool cleaning robot and method

ABSTRACT

An automatic swimming pool cleaning robot is disclosed, comprising a body, a suction head, an unstable valve, a suction pipe having an upper end, a recuperating filter connected to the upper end, and a venturi injector, wherein the unstable valve is activated to activate the robot. The robot combines the advantages of vacuum-fed robots and pressure-fed robots.

[0001] In general, the present invention concerns the field of swimmingpool maintenance equipment.

[0002] More precisely, according to one of its features, the inventionconcerns an automatic swimming pool cleaning robot, comprising at leasta body terminated by a suction head, an astable valve housed in thebody, and a suction pipe, the first end of which is attached to the bodyand connected to the suction head via the astable valve and for which alengthwise section, following the first end and forming or preceding asecond end of the pipe in one direction of suction, is, duringoperation, subjected to a vacuum generated by a vacuum source, theastable valve being put in motion by the vacuum and discontinuouslyputting the suction head in communication with the second end of thepipe.

[0003] Robots of this type are well known in the prior art, such asthose disclosed, for example, in Patent Nos. FR 2 302 151, U.S. Pat. No.5,014,382, or EP 0 633 371.

[0004] Regardless of type, the automatic swimming pool cleaning robotsare designed to be immersed in a swimming pool and to move by themselvesat the bottom of the swimming pool while drawing up impurities andpossible foreign matter that may be found there.

[0005] Conventionally, these robots are placed in two categories basedon to whether they are activated by a suction pump or by a pressurizedwater source.

[0006] In general, the movements of the robots of the first type areobtained by recovery of the kinetic energy of a water currentperiodically established and abruptly interrupted, while those of thesecond type are moved either as a result of a motor with blades fed bythe pressurized water source or by the ejection of a water current andconservation of the amount of movement, like a rocket.

[0007] However, the technical characteristics of these robots depend,rather markedly, on the category to which they belong.

[0008] Thus, the robots activated by a suction pump are usually lighter,such that, if applicable, they may clean not only the flat bottoms of aswimming pool, but also the sloping side and even the vertical walls.

[0009] The vacuum-fed robots also have the advantage of containing onlya small number of moxing parts, which, moreover, present excellentrobustness with respect to any source of contamination or wear and tear,in comparison with the propellers, belts and, possibly, ball bearingswhich the pressure-fed robots generally comprise.

[0010] However, to avoid the use of an additional suction pump, thevacuum-fed robots are usually connected to the filtrating pump of theswimming pool, such that they cannot be used permanently.

[0011] For their part, while the pressure-fed robots may be effectivelyused permanently, on the other hand their weight is such that theygenerally require the use of a compressor.

[0012] Finally, while the pressure-fed robots are immediatelyoperational when started up, the vacuum-fed robots are possibly subjectto priming defects, which can only be controlled by additionalmanipulations.

[0013] The invention in this context has the object of proposing acleaning robot that combines at least one advantage of pressure-fedrobots with those of vacuum-fed robots.

[0014] For this purpose, the robot of the invention, which moreoverconforms to the generic definition given by the preamble above, isessentially characterized in that it also comprises a recuperationfilter that, during operation, is selectively connected to the secondend of the pipe and a Venturi injector arranged on said lengthwisesection of pipe and presenting an inlet orifice, exterior to the pipeand, during operation, is selectively connected to a pressurized watersource and an outlet nozzle, internal to the pipe, and pointingapproximately in the direction of suction, this injector itself formingthe vacuum source during operation.

[0015] Not only does such a robot retain all of the advantages of avacuum-fed robot, whose structure and principle of movement it keeps,but it also acquires the advantages of pressure-fed robots, especiallythe ability to be immediately operational upon being started and thepossibility of being used permanently.

[0016] Moreover, due to moderate weight, such a robot operates withoutrequiring a compressor, so it manages to reduce a widespreadinconvenience in the category of pressure-fed robots.

[0017] In addition, the robot of the invention may contain a plugselectively sealing the inlet orifice of the injector, and be designedsuch that the filter is removably connected to the second end of thepipe, so this robot may also be operated by sealing the inlet orifice ofthe injector and connecting the second end of the pipe to an externalvacuum source, in the manner of a standard vacuum-fed robot.

[0018] In one possible, but nonlimiting, embodiment of the invention,the nine may consist of two passages connected to the body at its firstend, a three-branched mutually communicating connection, which includestwo lateral branches connecting the two passages to each other and acentral branch, and a common conduit connecting the central branch ofthe connection to the second end of the pipe, the injector beinginstalled on the common conduit of the pipe.

[0019] Likewise, the astable valve may comprise at least a first seatsubject to the vacuum and a closing element pivoting between a sealingposition in which it seals the first seat, and a release position inwhich it is released from the first seat, a return movement system beingprovided so that the pivoting closing element, at least when it reacheseither the closed or disengaged position is drawn to the other of saidpositions.

[0020] The invention also concerns a method for functional utilizationof an automatic swimming pool cleaning robot designed to be vacuum fed,where said method is characterized in that it contains a step consistingof equipping this robot with a selectively pressure-fed Venturiinjector.

[0021] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention, forinformation only and in no way restrictive, will be clearly brought outwith the description given below with reference to the attached drawingin which:

[0022]FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic sectional view of a robot integrating themain characteristics of the invention as well as optionalcharacteristics given by way of example; and

[0023]FIG. 2 is a detailed view of an enlarged section, having the samereference numbers as FIG. 1 and essentially representing a variant ofthe Venturi injector.

[0024] In a known way, a robot in accordance with the invention consistsof body 1, a suction head 2, an astable valve 3, and a suction pipe 4.

[0025] The astable valve 3 is housed in the body 1, which is terminatedby the suction head 2, itself provided with a skirt 20 which, duringoperation, is applied to the surface to be cleaned.

[0026] A first end 41 of the suction pipe 4, which forms the lower endof this pipe when the robot is resting on the bottom of the swimmingpool, is attached to the body 1 and connected to the suction head 2 viathe astable valve 3.

[0027] The second end 42 of the suction pipe 4, which forms the upperend of this pipe when the robot is resting on the bottom of the swimmingpool, follows the first end 41 in the direction of suction indicated byarrow A.

[0028] In the case of known vacuum-fed robots, the second end 42 of thepipe 4 is connected to a vacuum source formed by a return pump 5 ethrough a flexible tube 8, the vacuum generated by this pump 5 e beingset up especially in the lengthwise section 40 of the pipe 4,intermediately between the first end 41 and the second end 40 or formingthis latter.

[0029] As a result of this vacuum, which is transmitted up to the firstend 41 of the pipe 4, the astable valve 3 is put in motion, and it putsthe suction head 2 discontinuously in communication with the second end42 of the pipe 4; that is, the flow of water established by the vacuumbetween the suction head 2 and the lengthwise section 40 of the pipe 4is interrupted and is neither steady nor, a fortiori, constant.

[0030] Also in a known way, the robot is equipped with a lower support101 and an upper support 102 on which are mounted, respectively, inseparately controllable positions, a weight 11 and a float 12 whichtogether ensure the stability of the robot in the water.

[0031] The robot of the invention specifically also comprises arecuperation filter 6 and a Venturi injector 5.

[0032] As the figure shows, the recuperation filter 6 for example, hasthe form of a pocket and, during operation, is connected, to the secondend 42 of the pipe 4, preferably so that it can be removed.

[0033] The object of the Venturi injector 5 is to form, duringoperation, the vacuum source, especially necessary for the operating ofthe astable valve 3.

[0034] This injector 5 is set up on the lengthwise section 40 of thepipe 4 and presents an inlet orifice 51 which is external to the pipe 4and which is connected during operation to a pressurized water sourcesuch as a tap 7, and an outlet nozzle 52 which is provided on theinterior of the pipe 4 and which points at least approximately in thedirection of suction A, so as to make the water originating from the tap7 circulate along this direction A.

[0035] If the robot of the invention contains in addition a plug 53capable of sealing the inlet orifice 51 of the injector 5, and if thefilter 6 is well connected to the second end 42 of the pipe 4 in such away that it is removable, then this robot may also be run in aconventional manner, by connecting the second end 42 of the pipe 4 tothe external vacuum source 5 e and sealing the inlet orifice 51 of theinjector with the plug 53.

[0036] Although the invention may be illustrated for a specific type ofvacuum robot, it is applicable to all vacuum robots, and in particularto those in which the movement is obtained by periodic interruption of aflow of water put in motion by suction.

[0037] In general, and especially in the specific illustratedapplication, the astable valve 3 consists of a pivoting closing elementwhich, as it were, takes the form of a wedge hammer 30 and whichinteracts with at least one valve seat such as 31, subject to thevacuum.

[0038] The block stop 30 is arranged and stressed so as to pivot betweena closed position, in which it seals the seat 31, and a disengagedposition, in which it is released from this seat 31.

[0039] For this purpose, when it reaches either its closed or disengagedposition, the block stop 30 is drawn towards the other of these twopositions.

[0040] In the particular embodiment illustrated, the valve in factconsists of a second seat 32 approximately symmetrical to the seat 31compared to the intermediate position of the block stop 30, and thislatter is, in a known way, alternately drawn towards seat 31 and towardsseat 32 by the water current which is alternately established near seat32 and seat 31, respectively.

[0041] This is realized in that pipe 4 consists of two rigid passages401 and 402 which, at the first end 41 of this pipe, are mounteddirectly on body 1 and, at the second end 42 of the pipe 4, areconnected via a connector 43 with three branches.

[0042] The three branches 403, 404 and 405 of the connector 43communicate with each other and consist of two lateral branches 403 and404 and a central branch 405.

[0043] As shown in the figure, the lateral branches 403 and 404 connectthe two passages 401 and 402 to each other.

[0044] The central branch 405 leads to a common conduit 406 whichdefines the second end 42 of the pipe 4 and on which is installed theinjector 5.

[0045] When the common conduit 406 is put under vacuum while the closingelement is applied to the seat 31, no circulation of water is possiblethrough the passage 401 while a water current with increasing speed isestablished through passage 402.

[0046] Under these conditions, the difference between the pressures thatare established on the lateral surfaces of the closing element 30 causesan attraction of said closing element towards the seat 32.

[0047] As soon as the closing element 30 is applied to the seat 32, theflow of water that was established with relatively high speed in thepassage 402 is abruptly interrupted, the kinetic energy of said flowbeing transmitted to the rigid structure of the robot.

[0048] However, at this instant, the water present in the passage 401still has no or very low speed, such that the head 2 is no longeraffected by the suction generated in the common conduit 406 and suchthat it may be easily lifted off the surface during cleaning.

[0049] Thus, insofar as the robot has total freedom of movement relativeto this surface and insofar as its rigid structure receives the kineticenergy of the interrupted flow, it undergoes a displacement.

[0050] Since seat 31 has been released by the closing element 30, a flowof water with increasing speed is established in the passage 401.

[0051] Under these conditions, the closing element 30 is drawn towardsthe closing element 31 and a new operating cycle begins that isidentical to that just described.

What is claimed is:
 1. Automatic swimming pool cleaning robot,comprising at least a body (1) terminated by a suction head (2), anastable valve (3) housed in the body (1), and a suction pipe (4), thefirst end (41) of which is attached to the body (1) and connected to thesuction head (2) via the astable valve (3) and for which a lengthwisesection (40), following the first end (41) and forming or preceding asecond end (42) of the pipe (4) in one direction of suction (A), is,during operation, subjected to a vacuum generated by a vacuum source (5,5 e) the astable valve (3) being put in motion by the vacuum anddiscontinuously putting the suction head (2) in communication with thesecond end (42) of the pipe (4), characterized in that it comprises inaddition a recuperation filter (6) that, during operation, isselectively connected to the second end (42) of the pipe (4) and aVenturi injector (5) installed on said lengthwise section (40) of pipeand presenting an inlet orifice (51), exterior to the pipe (4) and,during operation, is selectively connected to a pressurized water source(7) and an outlet nozzle (52), internal to the pipe (4), and pointingapproximately in the direction of the suction (A), said injector (5)itself forming the vacuum source during operation.
 2. Robot according toclaim 1 characterized in that it also comprises a plug (53) selectivelysealing the inlet orifice (51) of the injector (5), and in that thefilter (6) is removably connected to the second end (42) of the pipe(4), so that this robot may also be operated by sealing the inletorifice (51) of the injector and connecting the second end (42) of thepipe to an external vacuum source (5 e).
 3. Robot according to any oneof the preceding claims characterized in that the pipe (4) may consistof two passages (401, 402) connected to the body at its first end (41),a connection (43) with three mutually communicating branches (403, 404,405), including two lateral branches (403, 404) connecting the twopassages (401, 402) to each other and a central branch (405), and acommon conduit (406) connecting the central branch (405) of theconnection to the second end (42) of the pipe, the injector (5) beinginstalled on the common conduit (406) of the pipe.
 4. Robot according toany one of the preceding claims characterized in that the astable valve(3) may consist of at least a first seat (31) subject to the vacuum anda closing element (30) pivoting between a closed position in which itseals the first seat (31), and a disengaged position in which it isreleased from the first seat (31), and in which the pivoting closingelement (30), at least when it reaches either the closed or disengagedposition is drawn to the other of said positions.
 5. Method offunctional utilization of an automatic swimming pool cleaning robotdesigned to be vacuum fed, characterized in that it comprises as stepconsisting of endowing said robot with a Venturi injector selectivelyfed under pressure.